Jody Richards and The Secret Potion (18 page)

Her mother appeared at the foot of the stairs. “Nothing has happened to him,” she said, puzzled by the concern in her daughter’s voice. “He’s still in bed asleep, dear.”

“But if he is, why didn’t Daddy call him as well?” asked Jody.

“Why do you, think, stupid?” a familiar voice chided behind her.

She turned to see James, dressed in dark blue pyjamas, stagger out of his bedroom, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

“It’s because my school goes back a day later than yours,” he told her.

“I didn’t have to get up early today and was planning on having a lie-in, but I couldn’t sleep with all the racket you’re making.”

Then he called out to his mother: “Mum, I’ve had the most peculiar dream.”

About The Author

TONY FLOOD has spent most of his working life as a sports and leisure journalist on various national and regional papers – but this is his first fantasy novel.

Tony,
formerly Controller of Information at Sky Television, Editor of Football Monthly magazine and Sports Editor of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, recently retired after eight years with The People newspaper. He is now content to write theatre reviews for the Brighton Argus and Eastbourne Herald.

His work as a leisure writer, critic and sports editor for the Richmond and Twickenham Times and Kentish Times Series saw him take on a variety of challenges – learning to dance with Strictly Come Dancing star Erin Boag, becoming a stand-up comedian and playing football with the late George Best and Bobby Moore.

Tony has interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment and in the sporting world – Muhammad Ali, Linda Gray, Britt Ekland, Frankie Howerd, Patsy Kensit, Petula Clark, Joe Pasquale, Seb Coe, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Bobby Robson and top comedy writers Galton and Simpson.

Copyright

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locations are entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved – copyright Tony Flood.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the
www.gappublishing.co.uk
or the author.

THIS book is dedicated to the memory of my parents Mabel and Dennis Flood and my grandparents Winnie and Reggie Burwash, who brought me up with so much love and kindness.

They, together with my lovely wife Heather and son James, have been an inspiration to me as a writer.

Heather, who herself writes magical stories for young children, came up with the original idea for The Secret Potion, while James, a graphic designer, has produced a brilliant book cover and illustrations for me.

I would also like to thank actress June Whitfield, author Michael Walsh and editors Jay Dixon, Lee Horton and John Payne for their encouragement and advice, as well as author Jessica Duchen, journalist Chris Holmes, Colin Downey, Angela and Sam Warren, Cathy and George Curtis, Julia Sameja and Bill Smith for their supportive reviews.

Special thanks go to Rupert Barlow of GA&P Ltd ePublishing
www.gappublishing.co.uk
and his staff for their efforts in ensuring the book sailed smoothly through the choppy seas of production and distribution.

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